Group plans to protest at Bolshoi opener

Comrades carry an injured Ukrainian serviceman on board a Ukrainian military plane to be transported to Ukraine at Rostov-on-Don’s airport in Russia early Thursday. Several Ukrainian servicemen had to cross the border into Russia after they were injured in clashes with pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine.
The Associated Press

A press release from the Ukrainian Congress Committee president, Andrij Baran, said the group plans to protest Putin’s “declaration of war” on Ukraine and its alleged involvement in the Malaysian Flight MH17 tragedy on July 17, which killed nearly 300 passengers.

The protest is not designed to denigrate the performance or Russian culture, but rather to not allow the ballet to create a “favorable public relations ploy by presenting a human face to a government that is engaging in Hilteresque activity on a daily basis.”

Baran said he has seen a turnout of anywhere from 20 to 100 people at other protests the group has conducted and expects a similar turnout. He said protesters will be picketing and handing out leaflets. They also hope to collect first-aid kits to send to Ukrainian soldiers.

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He said they have been granted permission from State Park Police but have not had any contact from SPAC at press time.

The Bolshoi Ballet is based in Moscow, Russia and is among the world’s oldest ballet companies. The ballet will perform at SPAC from July 29 to Aug. 1.

“The Bolshoi Ballet’s engagement at SPAC is an opportunity for us to offer audiences the opportunity to experience one of the world’s greatest ballet companies – a company whose origins date back to the very founding of classical ballet as an art form. After performing for sold-out audiences in both Washington D.C. and New York City, the troupe arrives here in Saratoga to give people in this region and beyond the extraordinary opportunity to see the Bolshoi perform on SPAC’s legendary stage,” said SPAC President Marcia White in a statement, “while we respect the position of the Ukranian Americans of the Capital Region and support their right to express those views, the Bolshoi’s SPAC engagement is a historic cultural event, not a political statement.”

Protestors also will express concern for Russia’s war tactics and say Russia is in violation of laws and treaties as they force their way across the Ukrainian border.

“We will not let Evil triumph or permit Putin’s ambassadors of good will go unchallenged. The innocent victims’ cry for justice will be heeded Tuesday in Saratoga Springs,” the release said.

The group also protested Russia’s invasion of Crimea at local Lukoil stations in March.

“We want to make people aware. Culture is nice but we don’t want it to cover up these horrible events,” Baran said.